On the Couch

In retrospect, it all started some time Wednesday afternoon. At first I attributed it to the leftover Popeye's fried chicken I'd had for both breakfast and lunch. The nagging discomfort down in my chest was still there Thursday morning when I went out to meet the morning long ride on the levee, and I was hoping that the ride might finally clear it out. Halfway through the ride, though, I knew it wasn't going to happen. Something was wrong, and this time I couldn't lay all the blame on Popeye's. By the time we were halfway home I was sitting off the back of the paceline thinking, "why the hell do my legs hurt so much today?" Half an hour later, as I walked in the door already shivering, I knew. Yep. I was definitely sick. Fever, chills, aches. I ripped off the damp riding clothes and dove under the covers until the shivering stopped and I could down a couple of Advil. After a little rest and a number of pills I was feeling well enough to fire up the computer and get some things done, listening to the live stream of a legislative hearing and joining a conference call. That night, however, I slept barely at all, alternating between fever and chills the whole time. Friday I took a different strategy (as if I had a choice). The computer and blackberry stayed off and for about twelve hours I climbed out from under the covers only every four hours to take more medication. If I haven't returned you phone call or email, that's why.


Friday evening The Wife came home with a new adopted dog. Lying in bed clutching the covers around my neck I thought, "wow, she's already got a replacement for me and I'm not even dead yet." The dog has had kind of a rough history and is pretty skittish, but hopefully he'll settle in over the next week or so. Anyway, Saturday has been significantly better, but with this deep lung thing still going on I think a hard ride on Sunday would be a rather huge mistake. So for now I'm setting my sights on an easy mid-morning spin on the levee. Hopefully I'll feel more or less normal by then.